Intel has decided to delay the launch of its entry-level products, it’s been reported, forcing major netbook manufacturers to push back the first shipments of their upcoming netbooks.

A next-generation Atom processor for netbooks – codenamed ‘Pine Trail’ – is expected to launch during Q4 of this year – a timeframe later narrowed down to October, following recently leaked information from an Asia-based mole.

But industry sources have since told Digitimes that Pine Trail-M – Intel’s mobile variant of the CPU – now won't appear until Q1 2010.

The net result is that neither Asustek nor Acer will launch any new netbooks during the second half of 2009, the sources added. Both firms will instead be forced to focus their efforts of ultra-thin notebooks.

Details are still hazy about exactly which netbooks are facing delays, but Intel’s decision could reportedly impact the arrival of an Android notebook from Acer. The launch of a dual-OS notebook – also from Acer – could be impacted, too, the sources added. ®